Quick releasable carrying device



May 31, 1966 A. L. TRUSTY 3,

QUICK RELEASABLE CARRYING DEVICE Filed March 15, 1964 A'rmQ/vss s United States Patent F 3,253,850 QUICK RELEASABLE CARRYING DEVICE Alvin L. Trusty, RED. 2, Fort Dodge, Iowa Filed Mar. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 351,697 4 Claims. (Cl. 29416) This invention relates to a carrying device and more particularly to a quick releasable carrying device.

Small trees, bushes and shrubs are usually placed in egg cans filled with :dirt when being displayed for sale, etc. These egg cans are usually buried to some depth into the ground. A problem arises when the time arrives for removal of these egg cans fromthe ground for delivery or transplanting of the trees therein. Heretofore, it was necessary to dig the egg cans out of the ground and then attempt to grasp the egg cans for carrying purposes. The task is difficult to say the least. The egg cans are dirty, wet and bulky. In addition, the egg cans are frequently loaded into trucks which have a truck bed at a considerable height above the ground.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a quick releasable carrying device which will effectively grasp the object to be carried.

A further object of this invention is to provide a quick releasable carrying device which will extract egg cans from the ground without digging.

A further object of this invention is to provide a quick releasable carrying device which permits easy handling of eggs cans.

' A further object of this invention is to provide a quick releasable carrying device which has a means thereon to facilitate a quick release of the grasping means.

A further. object of this invention is to provide a quick releasable carrying device which facilitates loading of egg cans into a truck.

A-further object of this invention is to provide a quick releasable carrying device which permits a one-handed operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a quick releasable carrying device which will be economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those-skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the devicegrasping an egg can containing a small tree;

FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the device with a portion of the rotatable sleeve cut away to more fully illustrate the device; and

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the device with .portions cut away to more fully illustrate the device.

The numeral generally represents a spring loaded wrench. Wrench 10 is comprised of a handle 11 having a stationary jaw 13 on its forward end and a movable jaw 15 pivotally secured to handle 11 by means of pin 17. A toggle 19 is pivotally secured to movable jaw 15 by means of pin 21. A toggle link 23 is pivotally connected at its forward end to toggle 19 intermediate its length by means of pin 25. The rearward end oftOggle link 23 is secured to the forward end of screw 27 which threadably extends into the rearward end of handle 11. Toggle link 23 has a cam means 29 integral therewith intermediate its length. A spring means 31 is secured at one of its ends to handle 11 and to the movable jaw 15 at its other end. A toggle release lever 33 is pivotally secured to toggle 19 by means of pin 35. A second 3,253,850 Patented May 31, 1966 ICCv handle means 37 is secured to handle means 11 as shown in FIG. 2 by welding or the like. Handle 37 is comprised of a first arm portion 39 which extends rearwardly and outwardly from handle 11 and terminates in a second arm portion 41 which extends inwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of handle 11. A circular sleeve 43 is rotatably secured to arm portion 41 and has a shoulder 45 formed therein. A washer 47 having a hole 49 therein extends into the outward end of sleeve 43 and engages shoulder 45. Washer 47 is maintained in its position by a reduced diameter portion 50 of arm portion 41 extending through hole 49 and being flattened out as shown in FIG. 2. Toggle release lever 37 has an extension 51 secured to its rearward end which extends rearwardly and. inwardly and terminates forwardly of sleeve 43 when wrench 10 is in a locked position as shown in FIG. 3. The numeral 53 generally represents an egg can holding dirt 55 and tree 57 therein.

The normal method of operation is as follows. Egg can 53 is usually placed into the ground so that only a portion of its upper periphery is exposed above the ground level. When egg can 53 is desired to be placed on a truck or the like, wrench 10 is adjusted to the desired gripping position by threadably turning screw 27. The longitudinal movement of screw 27 also causes toggle link 23 to move. Due to the movement of toggle link 23, movable jaw 15 is also pivoted through the linkage of toggle 19 and movable jaw 15. Jaws 13 and 15 are clamped over the upper periphery of egg can 53 and toggle 19 is pivoted inwardly to the locked position shown in FIG. 3. A person may then grasp sleeve 43 preferably with the index finger of the grasping hand adjacent the free end of-sleeve 43. The person may then lift .upwardly on the device withdrawing egg can 53 from the ground. Egg can 53 may be carried in this position and merely swung upwardly onto the bed of a truck or the like. The ability of sleeve 43 to rotate about its longitudinal axis allows the carrier to'swing the egg can 53 without shifting his grip on sleeve 43. When egg can 53 has been placed in the desired position, the index finger of the grasping hand merely flicks? the extension 51 of toggle release outwardly. This outward movement of toggle release lever 33 unlocks the wrench by shifting the fulcrum of the device and spring means 31 pulling the rearward portion of movable jaw 15 inwardly. The carrier does not have to use his free hand to unlock the wrench. Many times the egg can 53 will be placed on a level considerably higher than that occupied by the carrier. It would sometimes be difiicult for the handler to reach upwardly with his free hand to unlock wrench 10. Extension 51 permits easy access to toggle. release lever 37. The ability to carry and release an egg can 53 with one hand permits a handler to carry a Wrench 10 in each hand without any inconvenience.

While the invention has been described for carrying an egg can it could also be used for any carrying purpose desired.

Thus from the foregoing it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its devices.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my quick releasable carrying device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any

first toggle link pivotally secured to said movable l a second toggle link pivotally secured to said first toggle link at one of its end-s and slidably secured to said handle at its other end and having a cam means intermediate its length,

a spring means secured at one of its ends to said movable jaw and said handle at its other end to maintain said handle and said first toggle link in a substantially parallel locked relationship at times,

toggle release lever pivotally secured intermediate its length to said first toggle link and having its forward end capable of engaging said cam means when said handle and first toggle link are in a substantially parallel, locked relationship to unlock said handle and first toggle link,

an arm member secured to said handle and comprised said arm member being in the same plane as the plane of pivotal movement of said stationary jaw and movable jaw,

rotatable handle means secured to said second arm portion,

said toggle release lever extending rearwardly and terminating forwardly of said rotatable handle means,

and means on said handle to longitudinally move said other end of said first toggle link.

2. In a quick releasable carrying device,

handle having a stationary jaw on its forward end,

a movable jaw pivotally secured to said handle,

first toggle link pivotally secured to said movable i a second toggle link pivotally secured to said first toggle link at one of its ends and slidably secured to said handle at its other end and having a cam means intermediate its length,

a spring means secured at one of its ends to said movable jaw and said handle at its other end to maintain said handle and said first toggle link in a substantially parallel locked relationship at times, toggle release lever pivotally secured intermediate its length to said first toggle link and having its forward end capable of engaging said cam means when said handle and first toggle link are in a substantially parallel, locked relationship to unlock said handle and first toggle link, and

second handle secured to said first handle and extending first outwardly and rearwardly therefrom thence inwardly.

In a quick releasable carrying device,

a handle having a stationary jaw on its forward end, a movable jaw pivotally secured to said handle,

a: swamp first toggle link pivotally secured to said movable second toggle link pivotally secured to said first toggle link at one of its ends and slidably secured to said handle at its other end and having a cam means intermediate in length,

spring means secured at one of its ends to said movable jaw and said handle at its other end to maintain said handle and said first toggle link in a substantially parallel locked relationship at times,

toggle release lever pivotally secured intermediate its length to said first toggle link and having its forward end capable of engaging said cam means when said handle and first toggle link are in a substantially parallel, locked relationship to unlock said handle and first toggle link,

second handle secured to said first handle and extending first outwardly and rearwardly therefrom thence inwardly, and

sleeve means rotatably embracing said inwardly extending portion of said second handle.

In a quick releasable carrying device,

handle having a stationary-jaw on its forward end, movable jaw pivotally secured to said handle,

first toggle link pivotally secured to said movable J second toggle link pivotally secured to said first toggle link at one of its ends and slidably secured to said handle at its other end and having a cam means intermediate its length,

spring means secured at one of its ends to said movable jaw and said handle at its other end to maintain said handle and said first toggle link in a substantially parallel locked relationship at times, toggle release lever pivotally secured intermediate its length to said first toggle link and having its forward end capable of engaging said oam means when said handle and first toggle link are in a substantially parallel, locked relationship to unlock said handle and first toggle link,

second handle secured to said first handle and extending first outwardly and rearwardly therefrom thence inwardly, and

sleeve means rotatably embracing said inwardly extending portion of said second handle,

said toggle release lever extending rearwardly and terminating forwardly of said sleeve means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner. 

1. IN A QUICK RELEASABLE CARRYING DEVICE, A HANDLE HAVING A STATIONARY JAW ON ITS FORWARD END, A MOVABLE JAW PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID HANDLE, A FIRST TOGGLE LINK PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID MOVABLE JAW, A SECOND TOGGLE LINK PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST TOGGLE LINK AT ONE OF ITS ENDS AND SLIDABLY SECURED TO SAID HANDLE AT ITS OTHER END AND HAVING A CAM MEANS INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH, A SPRING MEANS SECURED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS TO SAID MOVABLE JAW AND SAID HANDLE AT ITS OTHER END TO A MAINTAIN SAID HANDLE AND SAID FIRST TOGGLE LINK IN A SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LOCKED RELATIONSHIP AT TIMES, A TOGGLE RELEASE LEVER PIVOTALLY SECURED INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH TO SAID FIRST TOGGLE LINK AND HAVING ITS FORWARD END CAPABLE OF ENGAGING SAID CAM MEANS WHEN SAID HANDLE AND FIRST TOGGLE LINK ARE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, LOCKED RELATIONSHIP TO UNLOCK SAID HANDLE AND FIRST TOGGLE LINK, AN ARM MEMBER SECURED TO SAID HANDLE AND COMPRISED OF A FIRST ARM PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID HANDLE AND TERMINATING IN A SECOND ARM PORTION EXTENDING INWARDLY THEREFROM AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HANDLE, SAID ARM MEMBER BEING IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE PLANE OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID STATIONARY JAW AND MOVABLE JAW, A ROTATABLE HANDLE MEANS SECURED TO SAID SECOND ARM PORTION, SAID TOGGLE RELEASE LEVER EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND TERMINATING FORWARDLY OF SAID ROTATABLE HANDLE MEANS, AND MEANS ON SAID HANDLE TO LONGITUDINALLY MOVE SAID OTHER END OF SAID FIRST TOGGLE LINK. 